LINESMEN

Pierre Racicot (#65)

Matt MacPherson (#83)

Games 16-17

77 / 11

77 / 11

Career Games

1613

399

First NHL Game

10/12/93

10/11/11

Birthplace

Verdun, QC

Antigonish, NS

This is the third game this postseason for the pairing of Chris Rooney and Kelly Sutherland, who worked Senators/Penguins Game 2, a 1-0 Pittsburgh victory that saw both teams combine for 40 minutes in penalties. Rooney and Sutherland also refereed Game 4 of the Western Conference Final between the Anaheim Ducks and the Nashville Predators.

Rooney worked the first two rounds with ref Francois St. Laurent. In Round 1, the duo handled PIT/CBJ Game 1, CHI/NSH Game 2, EDM/SJS Game 4, and MTL/NYR Game 6. The second round saw them referee STL/NSH Game 1, OTT/NYR Game 3, EDM/ANA Game 5, and WSH/PIT Game 6.

Sutherland was paired with Chris Lee for the opening round, working EDM/SJS Game 2, MIN/STL Game 3, WSH/TOR Game 4, and OTT/BOS Game 5. He officiated Round 2 with referee Steve Kozari, seeing action for NSH/STL Game 2, EDM/ANA Game 3, WSH/PIT Game 4, and OTT/NYR Game 5. Sutherland also worked Game 7 between the Ducks and Oilers with referee Wes McCauley.

Both officials rank in the bottom half of calls-per-game during the playoffs, but the majority of those penalties – and officials – came in the opening round. Of the four Conference Final pairings, Rooney/Sutherland rank second, combining for 6 power plays per game. Only the duo of O’Rourke/Hebert, at 7.2, has more. This should benefit the Penguins, who have gone 5-for-9 with the man advantage over the past three games. Ottawa’s last power play goal came in Game 1 against the New York Rangers; the Sens are 0-for-29 since then. Pittsburgh’s penalty-killers have stopped their last 18, dating back to Game 6 against the Washington Capitals. The Senators’ PK has struggles as of late, allowing five power play goal in the past three games — going just 4-for-9 (44%) on the penalty kill.

Home teams are a combined 13-8 (62%) under tonight’s officials, the highest home win percentage under any of the remaining ref pairings.

This is Rooney’s fourth trip to the Conference Finals; he’s worked two Stanley Cup Finals (2012, 2013). Sutherland is making his seventh Conference Finals appearance, with four trips to the Cup Final (2010, 2011, 2015, 2016).